A Study of Tourism Supply Chain by Using Sustainability Aspect of the GMS Economic Corridors: Case Study of Lower North Provincial Cluster 1 of Thailand and Sichuan Province of P.R. China

The tourism industry is considered as one of the leading development sectors of the GMS Program. Due to the complexities of characteristics of the tourism industry and lack of Tourism Supply Chain (TSC) Management, it leads to difficulties in developing the tourism section. Nowadays, a sustainability aspect becomes significant because it is responsible for the collapse of locals, communities, and environments in the tourism area. Therefore, this paper aims to propose a generic TSC for the GMS program and analyze the development guidelines of the TSC by using a sustainability aspect. This is done by developing an analyzing framework based on an initial literature search that serves to compile a preliminary framework, which are then verified and scientifically validated by conducting a Delphi survey. A part of R3A route of the GMS Program from lower north provincial cluster 1 of Thailand, Lao People's Democratic Republic, to Sichuan Province of P.R. China is used as a case study. The results show that, in the attractions and food and lodging element, a sustainability aspect is applied, mainly on economic and social views. While for the information, transportation, and immigration process element, there is not considered a sustainability aspect.